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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Political Responses

This vocal punk duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department revoked the artists' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Comments

The artist said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the chant, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated editorial standards in relation to harm and hurt.

Vylan told Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the politics of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When asked what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. Where the local population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish events recorded later.

"I believe I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Comparison with Different Bands

As he said he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."